9 Fun Excursions in Savannah’s Moon River District
When Savannah’s own Johnny Mercer penned the words to the Oscar-winning song “Moon River,” he was no doubt inspired by the Back River near his childhood home. And it was that famous song that inspired the Chatham County Commission to dub a section of the Back River Moon River. Today, that very same river still beckons locals and visitors alike to explore the marshland, forest trails, centuries-old sites and other adventures hiding in plain sight in the Moon River District.
For the next (or first) time you find yourself heeding the call to head just 20 minutes south of the heart of the city to the Moon River District, here are nine ideas for fun excursions there.
1. Go paddling.
For a guided experience, take one of the kayak tours. Or, if you’re an experienced kayaker who wants to explore on your own, strike out with a plan or meander the waterways at will soaking in the sublime scenery. If a languid float on a stand-up paddleboard is more your speed, glide along the placid waters of the Moon River, the tidal creeks behind Skidaway Island or the picturesque inlets around the Isle of Hope. Be sure to keep an eye out for herons, eagles, ospreys, pelicans, and dolphins as you go.
2. Spend some time with sea creatures at the UGA Aquarium.
When a lighthearted family-friendly time is the order of the day, get up close with a variety of Georgia’s marine life at the University of Georgia Aquarium. There, you can get nose-to-nose with schooling fish and seahorses, and hands-on with the animals in the touch tanks. Pick up a sea snail for instance or let a hermit crab tickle the palm of your hand. Oh, and don’t miss the displays on the upper level which houses fossils of sharks, whales and prehistoric creatures dredged from the Skidaway River.
3. Tour the Pin Point Heritage Museum.
Make a stop at the surprisingly intriguing white cinder block museum in the Pin Point community that once housed an oyster and shrimp factory to discover or rediscover the experience of glimpsing into local Gullah/Geechee culture. Call ahead to see if your timing coincides with one of their live demonstrations. Even if it doesn’t, the self-guided tour will immerse you in that deep sense of community connection that has taken root across generations and over more than a century.
Photo Courtesy: Wikimedia Commons